Aquino: will begin talks to allow Japan to use Philippines' military bases

June 5, 2015 3:05 AM

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TOKYO Philippine President Benigno Aquino said on Friday his nation was ready to start talks that would allow Japanese military aircraft and naval vessels to use the Philippines to refuel, allowing them to extend their range of operation into the South China Sea.

The agreement would be a Visiting Forces Agreement, which would clear the way for the Japanese military to use Philippines' bases on a rotational basis, Aquino said at a press briefing in Tokyo at the end of a four-day state visit to Japan.